Should I stop wearing lipstick?

Is lipstick making me look old?

Once upon a time I couldn't wait to wear lipstick and look older. Now I think that wearing it makes me look too.old.

Sometimes I l look at myself in the mirror and wonder who that old lady can be, but I still reach for my lip gloss and start smudging it over my mouth.

Should I keep on wearing lipstick? Is it drawing attention to the inescapable fact that I'm neither a young lass nor a smart 40 something professional woman with a flair for fashion? Does it make me look old?

I remember my first lipstick

My first lipstick was a pale pink shade (Blush Pink), a perfectly suitable colour for a 14 year old. I felt like Brigitte Bardot (she wore this shade) although my mother told me I was slapping it on too thickly. It never lasted past the first sip of chocolate malt anyway..

Then there was a time I didn't wear any lipstick at all, I affected a fresh-faced flower child style but I probably looked more like a pallid creature recovering from a long illness.

It was about my 40th birthday that my lipstick became brighter, more bold, more red. An attempt to put some colour into my worn-out face.

Are these good enough reasons to wear lipstick?

A bit of colour on my face is better than nothing. It brightens up my appearance, making me look less old.

A bit of colourful lip gloss looks like I still care about myself. (I haven't thrown in the towel yet).

It's my face and I'll paint it if I want to.

Are these good enough reasons not to wear lipstick?

Nothing ages like lipstick bleeding into fine lines but lip liner really stands out on me. I look like a clown.

When it's shiny it makes me look like that proverbial mutton pretending to be lamb. When it's matte it makes my whole lower face look droopy.

My lips, never full to start with, are thinner. Lipstick emphasises this. (Thank heavens I don't have artificially plumped lips like some ageing celebrities. They can frighten goblins).

They knew their stuff in Ancient Mesopotamia!

Five thousand years ago the people of Mesopotamia were doing really clever things like inventing writing, so they could record their recipe for making beer and yes, they were also painting their lips red!

The Ancient Egyptians picked up these advances in science and began to use lippie too. It's said that Cleopatra liked hers a rich shade of hot red.

Leave a kiss in my guest book

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sending

Virginia Allain

4 years agofrom Central Florida

I made a page about my mom and how good she looked in her eighties. Society discounts older beauty but the laugh lines on our faces and the wisdom in our eyes to me counts as beauty.

Lorelei Cohen

4 years agofrom Canada

The new photo suits this page ideally. Beautiful girl. You rock.

mariacarbonara

5 years ago

I agree you shouldn't stop wearing it just tone down the colors a bit to match skin tones more.

Lorelei Cohen

5 years agofrom Canada

I think that as we age we have to go to lighter colors in our hair coloring and lipstick. Our skin is getting lighter in color and we have to match it. It is sort of like being a teenager again (innocent colors and fragrances again).

anonymous

5 years ago

Always gonna wear lipstick, no matter how old I get!

Frischy

6 years agofrom Kentucky, USA

Smooch! Kisses for you, dear!

Katie Harp

6 years ago

I think a peachy lip GLOSS looks good at any age (:

Emily Tack

6 years agofrom USA

Ok...you asked for it, but I warn you - my lipstick is hard to wash off! ;)

Chazz

6 years agofrom New York

Hmmm. Before I kiss you -- are you wearing lipstick? Wouldn't want my wife to see it... :-)

TheMummyNextDoor

6 years ago

More lipstick. The redder the better ;)

Ann Hinds

6 years agofrom So Cal

OK, you made me laugh out loud. Great lens!!

Brandi

6 years agofrom Maryland

This is a very cute and creative lens! Thanks for the giggle! :)

blessedmomto7

6 years ago

This is a fun lens. I always feel ridiculous when I am wearing lipstick, but I always wished I could wear it and look good. I guess I should try it again before I am too old. (And I voted that you never are too old, go figure). Somehow I always feel like I am playing dress up when I wear it.

Jeanette

6 years agofrom Australia

Actually I've never really worn lipstick. I usually don't bother putting it on and when I do, I manage to eat it all off (?!) within a short time.

MoiraCrochetsPl

7 years ago

I don't wear lipstick because it dries my lips and my face is too oily, I don't like how I look after an hour. But I really want to wear red lipstick ala 1950's style.

Frischy

7 years agofrom Kentucky, USA

Maybe as we get older our make up looks better if it is softer in color and sheen. I have seen many beautiful older women and look forward to becoming one! Someday. ;-)

Ilona E

7 years agofrom Ohio

MWAH!

Peggy Hazelwood

7 years agofrom Desert Southwest, U.S.A.

Seriously, I usually forget to put it on. Go ahead and wear it if it makes you happy.

anonymous

7 years ago

I don't usually wear lipstick, just lip gloss lol. But I think that you should be able to wear lipstick at any age.

Ruthi

7 years ago

I don't wear lipstick very often, haven't worn make-up at all for years. But that is by choice, nothing to do with age. And, yes, I'm old, too.

dellgirl

7 years ago

Smootches...with fire engine RED lipstick!

lilymom24

7 years ago

Did the responses help you decided?

Cinnamonbite

7 years ago

but what did you decide?

anonymous

7 years ago

Love this lens, BIG KISS.....

Ann Hinds

7 years agofrom So Cal

Great lens, very funny. I haven't owned lipstick in more years than I can count but if I did, it would be some gawd-awful color. I am still partial to the 60's very pale colors like the one with the blue tint.

simplyoasis

7 years ago

I don't think anyone should stop wearing lipstick due to age but I will say use common sense!! Don't highlight the age signs instead tone them down with a different choice in color. At a certain age drop dead red is very UNflattering ...

BW Duerr

7 years agofrom Henrietta, New York

Big Kiss for a great and very fun debate regarding age and the use of lipstick. My grandmother wore a shade of red that let us count every love- and laugh-line in those fabulous pucker up kisses of hers. :D .

Nancy Tate Hellams

7 years agofrom Pendleton, SC

Love this lens. I just wish that my lipstick stayed on for more than one hour. lol

Susan Deppner

7 years agofrom Arkansas USA

Miaponzo said it well. Mwaaaa! Lensrolling this to my baby boomer and old as you feel lenses.

miaponzo

7 years ago

Mwaaaa.a. how's that? :)

GiftsBonanza

7 years ago

The votes are in and by popular demand you are not to stop wearing lipstick!

lizziehumphreys1

7 years ago

haha very amusing lens, really entertaining and I really enjoyed it!

'Vikk Simmons

7 years agofrom Houston

Funny, never thought much about it. Maybe I should as old age approaches. :)

Julia M S Pearce

7 years agofrom Melbourne, Australia

Keep wearing lipstick if it makes you feel good but watch the shade, then again if you love a rich red just go for it, you only live once!

Marie

7 years ago

I don't do make-up but lots of people who are older can wear it well. I think sometimes more muted colours can work better as you get older - but you don't need to stop.

Lorelei Cohen

7 years agofrom Canada

What I really hate is that my eyebrows have disappeared and the only way that I can now have them is to paint them on grrrr. It's funny because my hair has remained it's natural shade lol.

SandyPeaks

7 years ago

I never learned this habit, but I should say that when your hand shakes so much you can't draw straight, that's probably the time to stop - and find somebody to do it for you.

anonymous

7 years ago

I don't wear makeup often but when I do, I wear it for myself, not anyone else. I think the shade is the vital component here. Get some advice from a knowledgeable person, or if you are not shy, when you see a mature person with nice makeup, ask her what she wears! I don't know for sure, but I suspect there are tips to makeup that will enhance your lips and at least one of the cosmetic companies must make lipstick that is suitable for older skins. If YOU like it, wear it and to heck with what anyone else thinks!

Joan Hall

7 years agofrom Los Angeles

I never wear makeup. Maybe I'll freak out all of my friends and START wearing it when I'm 90!

Sue Dixon

7 years agofrom Grasmere, Cumbria, UK

Go for it ! I'm pretty ancient but still always wear lippy and always will!

religions7

7 years ago

Great topic for a lens :)

sorana lm

7 years ago

Just enjoy wearing it! :)

masunyoananda

7 years ago

Lots of love, hugs and blessings..............

Deb Kingsbury

7 years agofrom Flagstaff, Arizona

It's the one piece of makeup my 82-year-old mom won't give up. And it's still bright red. She puts it on every morning, even when she's not going anywhere ... which she rarely does.

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